Depression decisions — 2011

The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent since June 9, 2009. This rating is the maximum allowed under the criteria for this condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for depression, which he contends had its onset during active duty. The Board finds that a remand is necessary to clarify the etiology of his current psychiatric disorder and determine if it is related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The issue of service connection for psychiatric disability other than PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including schizophrenia and depression, is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and thus, did not address whether it caused or aggravated any other disorders. The Board also found that his diagnosed mental disorders were not related to active service.,PTSD was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's right knee disability, bilateral hip disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, polymyalgia rheumatica, back disability, neck disability, and weight gain and obesity are not considered service-connected as they are deemed to be secondary to his service-connected left knee disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Milwaukee RO for a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for depression, Epstein-Barr virus, and back injury residuals are on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 50 percent, which reflects moderate impairment. The appeal for a higher rating was denied as the symptoms do not meet criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to inadequate search for service treatment records and failure to provide adequate notice regarding alternative medical evidence. The Veteran's claims for service connection are being returned for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's reported stressors during his Vietnam service are consistent with fear of hostile military activity and have been confirmed by a VA psychologist. The Veteran is now entitled to service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected PTSD with depression is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder has been rated at 50 percent, and the Board found that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted based on his symptoms.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including whether any are related to his active duty military service.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and depression.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and a headache disorder was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service stressor sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD. The Veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military service.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, specifically depressive disorder, is now rated at 30 percent effective as of October 26, 2010. This rating reflects occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, has been manifested by total occupational and social impairment since June 18, 2009.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a head injury with headaches and depressive disorder were denied. The Veteran's headaches have been rated as 30 percent disabling, which is the maximum schedular rating available under current criteria. His depressive disorder has not met the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression has been shown to be productive of significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70 percent evaluation.